AURORA had left Tithonus’ yellow couch and was alread scattering the hoped-for day, and soon Apollo, bringing back to all things their colours, brought life to Euryalus, who was awaiting him, and now thought himself most happy and most fortunate, when he saw himself mingling with common slaves, and recognized by none.

So off he went, and, entering Lucretia’s house, took up his load of corn. When he had placed the wheat in the granary, he was the last to descend, and saw, as he had been told, the closed door of the marriage-chamber half-way down the stairs. He pushed it open and let himself in, and, as he shut the doors, beheld Lucretia busied on a piece of silk. And coming up to her, he said:

‘Good morning, my heart, good morning, my hope, sole guardian of my life! At last I have found you alone. At last, as I have so often dreamed, I may embrace you unobserved. No wall, no distance impedes my kisses.’

Now although it was Lucretia herself had laid the plan, yet at his first approach she stood aghast, and thought she saw not Euryalus but some ghost; as though she could not believe that such a man would face so many perils for her sake. But when, amid his kisses and embraces, she knew her Euryalus, then she spoke fearlessly:

‘Is this you, my darling? Is this indeed Euryalus?’ And, with blushing cheeks, she held him closer, and kissed him full on the forehead. And soon she spoke again:

‘Alas, what risks you have run! What more can I say? For now I know how dear I am to you. Now I have tried the mettle of your love; but you will find the same spirit in me. Only may the Gods favour us, and give our love a fortunate issue. While life runs in these veins, none but you will have power over Lucretia, not even my husband, if I can truly call him that who was given me against my will, and whom my heart has never accepted. But come, my joy, my delight; throw away this sack, show yourself as you are. Take off this carrier’s garb, get rid of these ropes, and let me see Euryalus.’

He had just removed his rags and appeared all glorious in purple and gold, ready for love’s business, when Sosias knocked at the door. ‘Look out, you lovers,’ said he. ‘Here comes Menelaus in a hurry, looking for I don’t know what. Hide your treachery, deceive your man. There is no way you can hope to escape.’

Then Lucretia said:

‘There is a little safe under the bed, where our valuables are kept. You know what I said in my letter would happen, were my husband to find you with me. Go in there—you’ll be safe there in the dark. And do not move or make a sound.’

Euryalus, at a loss what to do, obeyed the lady, and she, opening the doors, returned to her silk. Then in came Menelaus with a man. called Bertus, looking for some documents that related to the state. And, when he could not find them in any of his portfolios,—‘Perhaps they are in our safe,’ said Menelaus. ‘Go, bring a light, Lucretia, we must look in there.’

Terrified at this, Euryalus felt faint, and promptly began to hate Lucretia, saying to himself:

‘Dolt that I am! What brought me to this pass but my own folly? Now I am done for, now I’ll be made a laughing-stock, and lose the Emperor’s friendship. His friendship? I’ll be lucky if I keep my life. Who can save me from this? I’m bound to die.

‘Oh emptiest and stupidest of all stupid mortals! By my own wish have I got into this coil. What are the joys of Jove, if they are bought so dear? Its pleasure is short, and very long its sorrow. Oh, that we would endure as much for the Kingdom of Heaven! Wondrous stupidity of man. We’ll not put up with the briefest labour for ever-lasting joy, but for love, whose happiness may be compared to smoke, we’ll throw ourselves into endless difficulties.

‘Look at myself! Now I’ll be an example and a story for all men, and I can see no way out. Oh, if some God were to get me out of this, never again would I be trapped by love. Oh, God, save me, spare my youth! Condemn me not for my ignorance! Preserve me, that I may repent these crimes!

‘Lucretia never loved me, but wished to catch me, like a stag, in her toils. Look, my hour has come. No one can help me, but only thou, my God! Often had I heard of the wiles of women, and knew not how to avoid them. But if this time I escape, no woman’s tricks shall ever deceive me.’

But Lucretia was no less troubled than he, fearing, as she did, not only for her own life, but for her lover’s as well. Yet, as in times of sudden danger women have quicker wits than men, she thought of this remedy.

‘Look, my dear,’ said she. ‘There is a little chest there, under the window, where I remember you have hidden several documents. Let us see if the papers are in there.’

And going quickly over as though to open the chest, she cunningly pushed it out of the window, as if it had fallen by accident.

‘Heavens, my dear,’ cried she, ‘come quickly, or we may suffer for it. The chest has fallen out of the window. Oh hurry, both of you! Why do you, stand there? I’ll watch from here, in case someone tries to steal it.’

See the shamelessness of woman! Go now and trust the sex. No one has eyes so sharp that he cannot be cheated. Only he is safe, whose wife has not tried to deceive him. If we are fortunate, it is by good luck rather than good management.

Menelaus and Bertus were disturbed by this accident, and both immediately rushed into the street. The house, as is usual in Italy, was rather high, and they had a long way to go down, so that Euryalus had time to change his hiding-place and, directed by Lucretia, he placed himself in another refuge. The others meanwhile had collected the jewels and papers, and as the documents they required were not there, they turned their attention to the portfolios among which Euryalus had been concealed. Then, having found what they wanted, they saluted Lucretia and went away.

And she, after bolting the doors, said: ‘Come out, Euryalus, my heart. Come, my chief delight, fountain of my pleasures, my spring of happiness, my honeycomb. Come, my incomparable darling. For all is safe now; now the field is free for our conversation, now there is room for our embraces. Fate tried to oppose our kisses, but the Gods look kindly on our love, and would not fail two such true lovers. Come at last to my arms. There is nothing you need fear any longer, my lily, my crown of roses. Why do you hesitate—what are you afraid of? I am here, your Lucretia. Why so slow to embrace your Lucretia?’

Euryalus had barely recovered from his panic, but he pulled himself together, and took her in his arms:

‘Never have I been so frightened, but for your sake even that was worth enduring. Your kisses and your so sweet embraces should not be enjoyed by anyone for nothing. And, to speak the truth, I have not yet paid enough for so much bliss. If after death I could live again and possess you, I would die a thousand times, were that the price of your embraces. Oh my joy! my great good fortune! Do I really see you—is it true: Do I hold you, or am I deluded by empty dreams? No, indeed, you are here, and you are mine.’